Filing device



G. M.' WILLIAMS.

FI'LING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, I919.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

INVENTOR PATENT orrics.

GEORGE M. WILLIAMS, OE PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANEA.

FILING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Application filed May 31, 1919. Serial No. 300,825.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonsn M. WILLIAMS, a resident of Pittsburgh, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Tm )rovement in Filing Devices, of which the following is aspecification. Y

The invention relates to filing devices, and especially to devices forfiling and storing disk records of talking machines and the like. Theobject is to arovide a device for the purpose stated which is ofeconomical construction, which will receive the records in a verticalposition and hold the same separated from each other and in such amanner that they cannot become injured, and particularly, which is soconstructed that a record can be easily and quickly removed andreplaced, with a minimum amount of trouble and labor.

' The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectionthrough one form of the device; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central sectiontherethrough; Fig. 3 is a detailed View of one of the pockets showing itopened for the removal of the record; Figs. 4: and 5 are respectively atransverse and a longitudinal section showing a. modified arrangement ofpocket suspending members and supports therefor; Figs. 6, 7 and 8 arefragmentary sectional views showing still further modifications ofpocket suspending members and supports therefor; and Fig. 9 is alongitudinal sectional detail showing a modified construction ofpockets.

In the drawings 1 epresents a suitable frame, casing or cabinet, whichin Figs. 1, 2, 1, 5 and 6 is shown as a wooden boX and in Figs. 7 and Sis indicated as a metal box, open at its top and provided with cover 2,and arranged to 'beset on the floor, table, stand or the like, but whichmay be a frame of any desired construction and supported in any suitableway, such for instance as being incorporated in a cabinet, or being inthe form of a drawer or skeleton frame movably mounted in a desk orcabinet. In the latter case the cover 2 need not necessarily be used.

Extending along each of the sides of the frame or casing 1, close to itstop, are parallel supports, which in Figs. 1 and 2 are shown as circularrods 3 having'their ends suitably supported on or mounted in the endwalls of the frame or casing. i inclicates a series of transverse pocketsuspending members, shown as small rods or heavy wires, which in theembodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 have their ends provided with openeyes or hooks 5 engaging over the rods 3 and encircling the samesuiiiciently to prevent accidental detachment therefrom. The ends of therods 3 he immediately below and are concealed by the strips 6 which forma border around the top opening of the frame or. box. The main portionsof the members a are shown as depressed relative to their hooked endportions, as shown in Fig. 1, to permit depending concealing strip 7being applied to the top portion 6 and lying just inwardly of theupwardly bent end portions of the members 4:. This construction is notabsolutely necessary, but is advisable in order to conceal the workingparts and render the cabinet as a whole more ornamental.

Fig. 6 shows a modification in which the longitudinal supports are angleor like bars or strips 3, which may be of metal or wood suitably securedto the sides of the frame or box, and the transverse suspending membersl have upturned ends terminating in horizontal portions 5 which rest onand are supported by the longitudinal bars 3:

Figs. 7 and 8 show a construction adapted to sheet metal casings orcabinets, in which the side walls 1 are bent horizontally inwardly, toform the top border portion 6, and thence downwardly, and have theirlower edge portions formed to provide the longitudinal supports. Asshown in Fig. 7 the downward edge portion is bent to form a groove 23*forming a support and guide for the ends of the transverse members 4,which in this instance are shown as straight, while in Fig. 8 the loweredge portion of the side is bent outwardly to form the ledge 3, wiichreceives the upwardly bent hooked portions 5 of the transverse members4.

Vi ith all of the forms so far described the transverse suspendingmembers 4: are slidable upon the longitudinal bars or supports.

Figs. 4- and 5 show still another modification in which the transversesuspending members f have upturned ends terminating in outwardlyprojecting portions 5" which are individually inserted in holes in thelongitudinal supporting strips or bars 3. In

this modification the transverse suspending members 4- are nothorizontally slidable as in the other views, but nevertheless theirpositions in the cabinet lengthwise thereof can be altered on account ofthe crank-like end suspending portions.

Secured to the transverse suspending members 4- are pockets 9 forreceiving individual records and suspendingthe same. These pockets areformed of any suitable fabric, such as leather, paper, fiber or thelike, but preferably cotton or other cloth, whose sides aresubstantially parallel,and the ends closed in any suitable way,preferably only for the major portion so as to leave a V-shaped opening16 at the top to permit the pockets-to open out. Each of the transversemembers l, except the two end members has attached thereto the side wallportions of two adjacent pockets. These pockets may be each independentof the adjacent one, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 where the sides ofadjacent pockets have independent side wall portions 11 and the endportions of said pockets are closed by merely stitching or otherwisesecuring together the end portions of these side walls. Fig. 9 shows amodification in which a single thickness of fabric 11 forms a wallcommon to two adjacent pockets, the bottom and ends of each pocket beingformed either of a separate strip of fabric, or by carrying portions ofone side wall over to form the bottom and ends of one pocket, while thefabric forming the other side wall of that pocket has its edge portioncarried over to formthe ends and bottom of the next adjacent pocket, andso on through the series, thus forming in effect a bellows arrangement.The pieces of fabric forming these several pockets can be fastenedtogether in any convenient way, and said pockets can be susoended fromthe transverse members 4 in any suitable way, but preferably by merelycarrying the fabric over the members el and stitching the sameimmediately underneath said members.

With any of the arrangements shown the pockets can be opened up topermit the insertion or removal of the records. WVith the forms siown inFigs. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8 this is effected by sliding the transversemembers 4t on the longitudinal bars, whereas in the form shown in Figs.at and 5 such opening up of the pockets is effected by swinging twoadjacent transverse members 4: on their end crank-like suspensions.

At the top of each pocket will be attached a suitable tab 12 bearing anumber, and an index of the records in the numbered pockets can bepasted on or otherwise applied to the inside of the cover 2, or, ifdesired, an index card can be stored in one of the pockets of theseries.

The filing device described is of simple construction and therefore canbe economically built. It holds the records securely in verticaledgewise position, with the individual records separated from each otherby the fabric of the pockets, so that the reproducing surfaces of therecords are not in contact with any hard substance, and said records aresuspended out. of contact with the side walls and bottom of the casing,so that they cannot be injured in any way. The frame or casing is openat the top and consequently the records can be easily and quicklyremoved and replaced, with a minimum amount of trouble, thus insuringthat records will always be replaced in the filing device and notallowed to lie around.

Various modifications can obviously be made in the construction and formof the parts described without departing from the invention as coveredby the claims now to be made.

I claim:

1. A filing device comprising a frame, a support extending along the topat each side thereof, transverse members having their ends engagingsaidsupports and being movable relative to. each other longitudinally ofthe frame, and pockets attached to said suspending members, and beingopen at their tops and closed at their ends up to a point near theirtops.

2. A filing device comprising a frame, a longitudinal. support extendingalong the top at each side thereof, transverse suspending members havingtheir ends engaging said supports and slidable thereupon longitudinallyof the frame, and pockets connected to said transverse members and beingopen at their tops and closed at their ends up to a point near theirtops.

3. A filing device comprising a frame, a longitudinal support extendingalong the top of each side of the frame, transverse suspending membershaving upturned end portions engaging said supports, said transversemembers being movable relative to each other longitudinally of theframe, pockets attached to said transverse members and open at theirtops, and concealing strips at the top of the frame or casing extendingover and downwardly inside of the upturned ends of said transversemembers.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE M. IVILLIAMS. Vitness:

G. G. TRILL.

